FC Lugano show no signs of slowing down, securing another three precious points in the race for the top of the Brack Super League. Less than three days after their prestigious European victory away at Getafe, the bianconeri beat Thun, the reigning Swiss champions, 3–2 on matchday 11 of the league. It was a hard-fought victory, coming at the end of a closely contested match in which Mattia Croci-Torti’s side also had to contend with the fatigue from their trip to Spain. The match was decided by goals from Moncada, Bislimi and Ajeti, allowing Lugano to remain unbeaten this season and maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table.
MONCADA BREAKS THE DEADLOCK, THUN RESPOND
The match got off to a flying start with Lugano immediately looking to play the ball in behind. In the 8th minute, Mai played a long ball for Bislimi to run onto; he found himself one-on-one with Steffen and beat him with a chip. However, the bianconeri midfielder’s shot went just wide. Thun responded in the 15th minute through Reichmuth, who cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, albeit straight down the middle, which was parried by von Ballmoos.
The two sides went toe-to-toe, and Lugano threatened again in the 19th minute when Bislimi played in Delcroix, who had made a run into the box. The Haitian defender tried to catch Steffen off guard with a left-footed shot at the near post, but the goalkeeper was alert and made the save. It was then Karimov’s turn to try his luck from distance: in the 23rd minute, his shot grazed the crossbar, whilst in the 31st minute another powerful effort from the Uzbek went just wide.
The bianconeri’s pressure finally paid off in the 34th minute. Delcroix played a long ball through to Moncada, who outpaced his marker, found himself one-on-one with Steffen and coolly slotted past him to put Lugano ahead.
However, the joy lasted barely three minutes. In the 37th minute, Reichmuth played Labeau through with a backheel inside the box. The striker struck with his right foot, only for von Ballmoos to make a fine save, but Zoukit pounced on the rebound and, from a central position, levelled the score.
The teams thus went into the break at 1–1, a result that reflected the balance of a first half in which Lugano, despite creating several chances, failed to perform with the same consistency as in their recent matches.
BISLIMI AND AJETI SECURE THE WIN
The second half got off to the best possible start for the bianconeri. In the 49th minute, following a short corner, the ball fell to Bislimi, who unleashed a long-range shot. Steffen got a hand to it but couldn’t hold onto the ball, which ended up in the net to restore Lugano’s lead.
Thun immediately sought to respond and, in the 56th minute, created a dangerous chance through Labeau, who was once again set up by an inspired Reichmuth. The striker tried to catch von Ballmoos off guard with an outside-of-the-foot shot towards the far post, but the ball flew over the bar.
As the minutes ticked by, Lugano gradually slowed the pace, seeking to manage their lead and conserve the energy they had left after Thursday’s European fixture. Thun took advantage to step up the pressure, forcing the bianconeri to defend in their own half. In the 73rd minute, it was Labeau again who came close to equalising, with an acrobatic shot following a corner that flew just over the bar.
Just as the home side were applying their greatest pressure, however, Lugano scored the goal that seemed to seal the match. In the 76th minute, Mai played a long ball forward from defence; Bürgy misjudged the challenge and Albian Ajeti, who had come on just two minutes earlier, capitalised immediately. The striker carried the ball into the box and beat Steffen with a precise finish, making it 3–1. For Ajeti, it was his third goal in the space of a few days, following his brace on Thursday against Getafe.
The match seemed to be all but over, but Thun refused to give up. In the 88th minute, a handball by Zanotti in the box led referee Turkes to award the home side a penalty. Braschi stepped up to take it, beating von Ballmoos to bring the game back into contention.
The final minutes were therefore a nerve-wracking affair for Lugano, who had to defend a lead that had once again been reduced to a single goal. However, Croci-Torti’s side gritted their teeth and managed to secure a precious victory, despite the fatigue accumulated over the previous few days.
Lugano therefore also claimed victory in Thun, responding to Young Boys’ win against St. Gallen and maintaining a six-point lead at the top of the Brack Super League, whilst extending their unbeaten run this season. After weeks of back-to-back fixtures, the bianconeri can now enjoy a full week to recharge their batteries and prepare for their next fixture: the clash against Basel at the AIL Arena next Sunday.
MATCH REPORT
FC THUN – FC LUGANO 2–3
Brack Super League – Matchday
11, 25 October 2026 – Visana Stadion
Attendance: 7,341
Goalscorers: 34’ Moncada, 37’ Zoukit, 49’ Bislimi, 76’ Ajeti, 88’ pen. Braschi.
FC THUN (4-4-2): Steffen; Strannegård, Bürgy, Passavant, Fehr; Maier (74’ Kristal), Zoukit, Roth, Reichmuth (81’ Ilic); Labeau (81’ Braschi), Dursun (65’ Christoffersson).
Substitutes: Spycher, Balaruban, Dähler, Käit, Lengen.
Manager: Gian Luca Privitelli.
FC LUGANO (3-4-3): von Ballmoos; Kelvin (46’ Zanotti), Mai, Delcroix; Karimov, Bislimi (83’ Kendouci), Grgić, Cimignani; Moncada (60’ Marques), Behrens (74’ Ajeti), Pihlström (46’ Dos Santos).
Substitutes: Gebhardt, Bichsel, Alioski, B. Castro.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Mirel Turkes
. Assistant referees: Nicolas Müller and Ilco Jancevski
. Fourth official: Jonathan Jaussi
. VAR and AVAR: Sven Wolfensberger and Hajrim Qovanaj
Booked: Pihlström (LUG), Kelvin (LUG), Maier (LUG), Fehr (THU).